Big Ten to "aggressively" look at 12th team

From the only main-stream blogger worth reading:

"Speaking to Wisconsin's athletic board on Friday, Alvarez, the former longtime Badgers football coach, said the conference already has investigated possibilities for expansion "from all over the country." And though he places no timetable on the search, Alvarez thinks conference commissioner Jim Delany will respond to a group of athletic directors and coaches who want expansion."

I know Alvarez is a guy who doesn't back down from something like this. So, let's hope there is more meat to this bone we're being thrown here. Could we see another run at Notre Dame, with the new regime coming into South Bend?

As hopeful as I am that Alvarez isn't just running his mouth, there aren't too many viable options out there. Who are you going to invite? Boise State would be a ridiculous choice, with the travel issues and obvious lack of any history in that program. A Mountain West team, like TCU? I'm not sure the Lone Star State is the right place to go for the Big Ten. That would leave out Houston, too.

I'd say a MAC team, but adding that conference to the mix would be just as embarrassing as a MWC or C-USA team. Temple will become a hot rumor, for sure. However, the Owls are still recovering from the Big East years. If Temple runs off a string of MAC titles, then I'd say go for it. But it's just not logical, right now.

So, who's left? What about a servi--wait a minute! That's it! The Big Ten will pursue a service academy! My early bet is Navy -- Army is still even behind Temple's progress, and Air Force is comfy where it is. But the Midshipmen have been able to show sustained success, have recently played well against the Big Ten (Ohio State '09), and are conspicuously within range of the Big Ten.

Chew on that while you're out Christmas shopping this weekend.

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Paterno bitch slaps Notre Dame

I won't go into detail, because I can't offer anything more than what Adam Rittenberg (ESPN) reported a little while ago. It's really interesting...

"The legendary Penn State coach also knows which school he wants to keep out: Notre Dame...Paterno met with reporters Wednesday at an alumni event near Allentown...He said the Big Ten should add an Eastern team, especially one that plays in the New York media market...He says there might be pressure to add Notre Dame, which rejected an invitation to join the Big Ten a decade ago. Paterno's view: "They've had their chance."

JoePa's a feisty one these days! And to think, most of the mainstream thought he was more pissed at Pitt than anyone else. Well, Paterno may not forget who snubs him, but now we know that his hit list is in order of newest to oldest.

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Big East looking at Service Academies

It seems that the New York Post is trying its hand at college football. Sure, they've done it in the past, but now that Rutgers is a player, the Post must feel obligated to devote more than a fraction of its attention to college football. According to a story run this morning, the Big East is stable enough to explore stronger relations with the conference's closest allies next to Notre Dame--the two service academies, Army and Navy. What's really interesting about this is how Big East Commish Mike Tranghese envisions the early stages of a deal. "...Army would play Connecticut, Cincinnati, Louisville and Pittsburgh. Navy would face Rutgers, South Florida, Syracuse and West Virginia," the Post article said, reasoning that the Big East and the academies are just falling victim to the 12th-game crisis happening across college football. You know, how it's now "impossible" to find opponents for that 12th game? Puh'lease.

"A ninth member, even limited partners such as Army and Navy (both have a significant TV following) would give league members eight league games. That would allow the flexibility of four non-conference games so teams could pursue non-conference rivals such as Pittsburgh and Penn State."

If I'm not mistaken, Pitt is already in the Big East. Papers like the Post should stick to covering A-Rod's next bowel movement. College football to them is just a gambling sport, nothing more.

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